Artificial eyes for dolls, toys, and the like



Nov. 6, 1934. J. DUNNER ARTIFICIAL EYES F'OR DOLLS, TOYS, AND THE LIKEFiled Jan. 6, 1952 Patented Nov. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTIFICIAL EYES FOR DOLLS, TOYS, AND

THE

LIKE

tion of New York Application January 6, 1932, Serial No. 584,982

Claims.

My invention'relates to a new and improved artificial eye. I

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved artificialeye for use in dolls, 5 toys, and the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide an artificial eye which canbe simply and economically manufactured and which shall be of solid anddurable construction.

Another object of my invention is to provide an artificial eye which canbe made wholly of celluloid or other material which can be readilyformed into shape.

Another object of my invention is to provide an artificial eye whichshall have a life-like appearance.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the followingdescription and drawing which illustrates a preferred embodimentthereof, it

being understood that the above general statement of the objects of myinvention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not tolimit it in any manner.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section,

the supporting arm for the eyeball member being shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved eye.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section of the eyeball memberwith the insert removed.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a disc made of celluloid or similar material,said disc forming the front member of the insert.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of a disc of cellu- -loid or other flexiblematerial on which the representation of the pupil and of the iris ispainted or printed or otherwise suitably depicted.

Fig. 8 is a vertical central section showing how the insert is preparedby combining the members shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a vertical centralsection showing the insert assembled withthe eyeball member.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 and showing a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 11 is a vertical central sectional view of the modified insertshown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows the modified pupil and iris member which is used in theembodiment shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

Artificial eyes of various types have been heretofore proposed for usein manufacturing dolls, toys, and the like. The manufacture of such eyeshas been either expensive, or else such eyes have been of relativelyfragile construction.

. readily shaped, such as metal or celluloid. The

eyeball member 1 is. rigid and it can be made either from asubstantially colorless and transparent celluliod, or from celluloidhaving a light gray color. In the latter case, the eyeball member 1 istranslucent so that it permits some light v to pass through. However,the eyeball member 1 could be made of any desired degree of opacity andof any suitable color. The upper half of the outer surface of theeyeball member 1 can be covered with a layer of material P and thispreferably has a pink color, so as to simulate the eyelid.

The eyeball member 1 can have a lug 2 provided with a slot 3. This lug 2may be integral with the eyeball member 1. If desired, the lug 2 may bemade of metal and it can be suitably connected to the eyeball member 1.The portion of the eyeball member 1 which is diametrically opposite tothe lug 2 is also provided with a cutout or recess 4, in order to permitthe free rolling movement of the eye. The eyeball member 1 is alsoprovided with openings 9 and 9a at the top and at the bottom thereof.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the eyeball member is provided with arelatively deep depression 5 in the rear surface thereof. A cross-shapedmember 7 is located in said depression 5 and said cross-shaped member 7is held in position by means of pins 8 and 8a which pass through theopenings 9 and 9a of the eyeball member 1. A shaft 6 passes through ,therecess 4 and the. slot 3, so that the eyeball member and its member 7can freely turn in unison with respect to the shaft 6. The pins 8 and80. also serve to limit the up and down turning movement of the eyeballmember 1. I

As shown in Fig. 3, the front of the eyeball member 1 is provided with arecess l0 for receiving an insert which simulates the pupil and theiris.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the wall 11 of the recess 10 is convex andsaid wall flares outwardly.

Referring to Fig. '7, a flexible disc 12 of celluloid or other suitablematerial has painted, imprinted. or otherwise impressed thereon therepresentation 14 of the pupil and the representation 15 of the iris.These parts 14 and 15 can be depicted in any desired colors. The disc 16which is shown in Fig. 6 is also made of flexible celluloid.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear of said disc 16 can be provided with acup-shaped depression. The parts 12 and 16 are assembled by means ofsuitable dies, in order to form the assembly shown in Fig. 8. The actionof the dies causes the iris portion 14 to enter the cup-shapeddepression provided in the rear of the member 16. The rear of the member15 is covered with a layer 12a of white and opaque material which can beany suitable paint or the like.

Since the member 16 is colorless and transparent, the light is reflectedfrom the front surface of the member 12. Since the member 12 ispreferably transparent or translucent, the white opaque rear layer 12areflects any light which passes through the member 12. Ilhe unitaryinsert which is thus formed has a peripheral wall 110. which is concavein longitudinal section so that it corresponds in shape to the wall 11of the recess 10. Hence, when the insert is forced into the recess 10, afirm interlocking connection is secured. The insert therefore has adrive fit in the recess 10.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the representation 14 of the pupilis painted, printed, or otherwise impressed upon the front of the disc12 and the representation of the iris member 15 is painted, printed, orotherwise impressed upon the rear of said disc.

This construction gives a more natural effect, because in the naturaleye, the pupil protrudes in front of the iris.v Likewise, therepresentation of the iris may be printed or otherwise formed, up to theedge of the pupil. If the pupil and iris are on the same side, there isdanger of these representations overlapping.

Likewise, the disc 12 may be made of celluloid having powdered glassimbedded in its rear surface or front surface. The glass crystals may beconnected to the celluloid disc by .pressure, or by the use of asuitable transparent adhesive. Likewise, the glass crystals may beconnected to the celluloid by the use of acetone or other material whichsoftens celluloid. A celluloid cement can also be used and any suit abletransparent adhesive lacquer may be employed. These fine crystals shouldbe sufficiently separated from each other so as to break up the lightand simulate the natural sparkle of the human eye. The member 16 isformed of flexible, transparent celluloid, as previously described, andthe members'lfi and 12 are assembled by means of suitable pressure. Ofcourse it is well known to use heated dies in order to press orotherwise shape celluloid, and heat and pressure may be employed.Likewise, I do not wish to be limited to the use of celluloid, or to-the use of material which must be molded by means of heat or pressure,and the method of working will depend upon the material selected.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 11, an additional backing member 121),which maybe made of transparent and flexible celluloid, is utilized, andthe white opaque layer 12a is formed upon the rear surface of thebacking member 121). Likewise, in this embodiment the peripheral wall ofthe insert is straight in longitudinal section, and the correspondingwall of the recess (shown in Fig. 10) is also straight in 1ongitudinalsection. In order to assemble the insert shown in Fig. 10 with theeyeball member 1, a suitable adhesive can be employed. Likewise, thevarious parts of the insert can be connected by means of suitableadhesive which is preferably colorless and transparent. The use of suchadhesive is necessary in utilizing some materials that cannot be readilyformed under heat and pressure. For example, I do not wish to excludethe use of glass, although I prefer to use celluloid, since celluloidcan be much more easily worked and it is not fragile.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the outer surface of the insert has the samegeneral contour as the outer surface of theeyeball member 1.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 10, it will be noted that the insert comprisesa rigid composite member having a front member made of substantiallytransparent and colorless material. The rear member 12 has a projectionwhich is located within and which interlocks with a depression which isprovided in the rear surface of said front member. In addition, when themembers 12 and 16 are joined by means of suitable heat and pressure,they are more or less welded together, in order to provide a very firmunion. Since the completed insert is rigid, it can be forced undersuitable pressure into the opening 10. The insert may have a certainamount of flexibility when it is completed, so that it can be readilyforced into position, and then be retained in position due to itsflexibility.

While I have shown a preferred method of making the improved articlespecified herein, the claims for the article of manufacture are not tobe limited to the specific method disclosed herein.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it is clearthat numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing fromits spirit.

I claim:

1. An artificial eye comprising a light-permeable member having a bodyand a projection which extends forwardly from said body, 'the front ofsaid projection having the representation of the pupil, the rear surfaceof said member having an annular representation of the iris around therear of said projection.

2. An artificial eye comprising a light-permeable member made ofnon-vitreous material and having discrete light-refracting particlesconnected thereto, said member having the representation of the pupiland of the iris thereon.

3. An artificial eye comprising a light-permeable celluloid memberhaving discrete light-refracting particles connected thereto, saidmember having the representation of the pupil and of the iris thereon.

4. An artificial eye comprising a light-permeable celluloid memberhaving discrete light-refracting particles connected thereto, saidmember having the representation of the pupil and of the iris thereon,said member having a backing member of celluloid connected thereto, saidlight refracting particles being located at the adjacent surfaces ofsaid members.

5. An artificial eye comprising an eyeball member having a recess whichextends inwardly from .the front wall of said eyeball member,

said recess having a wall which is directly adjacent the front wall ofthe eyeball member, said wall of the recess having a convex shape inlongitudinal section, and an insert made of bendable material andlocated in saidrecess, said insert simulating the pupil and the said1,m,so1

inserthavingawallwhichabutssaidwalldsaidrecesasaidwalloftheinsertbeingeoncave in longitudinal section. theadjacent walls of said recess and of said insert closely abutting eachother.

6-. An artificial eye comprising an eyeball member having a recess whichextends inwardly from the front wall of said eyeball member,saidrecesshavingawallwhichisdirectlyadjacent the front wall of theeyeball member, said wall of the recess having a convex shapeinlongitudinal section, and an insert made of bendable material andlocated in said recess, said insert simulating the pupil and the iris,said insert having a wall which abuts said wall of said recess, saidwall of the insert being concave in longitudinal section, the adjacentwalls of said recess and of said insert closely abutting each other,said insert having a drive fit in said recess.

'7. An artificial eye including a composite member which simulates thepupil and the iris, said composite member comprising a front member anda rear member each of which is made of bendable and light-permeablematerial, said members being connected to each other, said front memberhaving a recess in the rear surface thereof, the rear member having aprojection which extends forwardly from its body which fits snugly insaid recess, said projection simulating the pupil and the adjacentsurrounding portion of said rear member simulating the 8. An artificialeye including a composite member which simulates the pupil and the iris,

said composite member comprising a frontmemherandarearmembereachofwhichismade of bendable and light-permeablematerial, said members being connected to each other, said front memberhaving a. recess in the rear surface thereof, the rear member having aprojection which extends forwardly from its body which fits snugly insaid recess, said projection simulating the pupil and the adjacentsurrounding portion of said rear member simulating the iris, said rearmember having a white opaque layer located on the rear surface thereof.

9. An artificial eye including a composite member which simulates thepupil and the iris, said composite member comprising a front memher anda rear member each of which is made of bendable and light-permeablematerial, said members being connected to each other, said front memberhaving a recess in the rear surface thereof, the rear member having aprojection which extends forwardly from its body which fits snugly insaid recess, said projection simulating the pupil and the adjacentsurrounding portion of said rear member simulating the iris, the frontsurface of the front member being of substantially uniform curvature.

10. An artificial eye comprising a light-permeable member having aprojection, one side of said light-permeable member having therepresentation of the pupil formed on one side thereof at saidprojection, said member having the representation of the iris formed onthe other side thereof.

JULIUS DUNNER.

